How do you build your (Western) RPG characters?

[EliteFreq]

Some people seem to build their character into something from another game, something new or into themselves. Generally where does your inspiration for characters come from?

Usually my first character will be the completionist, it'll be based on me and begood rather than evil. It usually has my name, features that are sometimes vaguely like mine but I get sidetracked and end up making it nothing like me. My second one is more RP-y. It's usually evil(to go along with my good character), They're a total *****, they kill and steal at every oppertunity and dress to look bad-ass not for the armour stats.

How 'bout you fellas?

 

[ProfessorLayton]

I just... make it up as I go along. Honestly, I never have any inspiration and I definitely never try to make it look like me. Also, some people like making their characters very ugly and I don't like doing that for some reason.

 

[squid5580]

I just... make it up as I go along. Honestly, I never have any inspiration and I definitely never try to make it look like me. Also, some people like making their characters very ugly and I don't like doing that for some reason.

This. And usually female. I figure I gotta spend 30 - 300 hours looking at them I might as well make them look good. I usually get my wife to help since she has alot of experience with the Sims.

 

[Fingolfin High-King of the Noldor]

I make him look really average. I like it how he fits in with everybody else because it makes it seem more realistic to me.

 

[TheDarkAngel]

I try and make them look as gothy as possible, considering I play mostly as a stealthy character it kind of fits. ^^

 

[Avatar Roku]

For features, I just go with something default. I love RPGs, but I hate those sliders. Beyond that, I tend to go good, it just feels right (not to mention I began to feel physically ill after nuking Megaton), first playthrough is just for the story (unless it's a Bethesda RPG, in which case it just for the sidequests and possibly the story), second and after is more for sidequests(Bethesda: looting).

 

[ProfessorLayton]

This. And usually female. I figure I gotta spend 30 - 300 hours looking at them I might as well make them look good. I usually get my wife to help since she has alot of experience with the Sims.

I'm a guy and I love the Sims... but I never really make my RPG characters women. The only time I've ever made it a female was in Mass Effect.

 

[squid5580]

This. And usually female. I figure I gotta spend 30 - 300 hours looking at them I might as well make them look good. I usually get my wife to help since she has alot of experience with the Sims.

I'm a guy and I love the Sims... but I never really make my RPG characters women. The only time I've ever made it a female was in Mass Effect.

I wasn't saying it was a "girl" game. She just likes it and plays it and happens to be female. I on the other hand never got into it (just like she loved COD 4 but I didn't). And that has made her a better character creator than me. All I am saying.

 

[Axolotl]

I create a combat/melee based character the first time around and then with subsiquent playings I experiment with the other options avalible to me.

 

[teijakool]

I tend to gor form crunch to fluff, first finding what gamestyle I like, then what type of character fits the setting (heroic fantasy has other people than dark fantasy, ie). If that is done, I minmax and build a story around the numbers.
Look is usually more practical than cool.

 

[Supernaut565]

For looks my guys usually look like a cross between Jason Statham and Eragorn (the main guy from LOTR I can't spell his name) But no matter what 5 o'clock shadow always. I tend to favor being a warrior but some times I mix some magic or stealth in.

 

[Charli]

Either a good lookin dude to look at or a female I detest enough to get killed lots.

My WoW character is evidence of this. Her very voice sets me on edge. So wiping in raid? A-okay with me guys, Kill her stupid ass again.

I couldn't do that with a good lookin Night/Blood Elf guy... mmm.

 

[GeneralGrant]

I don't worry much about my character's looks-they'll just get covered up by a helmet two minutes into the game anyway. I usually give them an awesome beard though.

I focus a lot more on what type of character I want-usually either melee or spell based. I hate archer type classes.

 

[Hussmann54]

I gotta go with Axolotl on this one. My first time through is usually and experimental phase.

Although it usually becomes my "Trophy" Character. Usually I will have put the most work into them and they turn out better than any other despite being just an experiment.

I know they arent RPG's but in Legend of Zelda games, like ocarina of time, my first file is always the one with full hearts, all weapons and upgrades, all masks etc etc.

 

[EliteFreq]

I don't like playing as female characters because I'm not female. I can't pretend to be all the man I'm not if I choose a female character!

 

[MBergman]

Mostly when I start playing I decide on a somewhat general behavior I'd like this one to follow and from that point he grows. It's often ends up being a good character, because even if I decide that I'm gonna go evil, I often end up choosing good options and such because I can't stand being such a dick to certain NPCs (unless they deserve it) which they often don't.

So yeah, I'm usually a nice guy.

 

[GrinningManiac]

On the Champions Online demo, I made Moko from Evil Genius

Damn he is awesome

So yeah, usually I build my characters around favourites from other series: TF2, EG etc

 

[Yumi_and_Erea]

I usually make what the purple elephant tells me to, he's brilliant.

 

[GodsAndFishes]

I tend to make a very exaggerated (spelling?) version of me.

 

[NathanAjax]

For Bethesda RPG's:
First time I make it look like me and I focus on combat/stealth while being good. Second time I'm evil and I take the other route to combat (Magic in Oblivion, Melee in Fallout) and I'll try to make my character look like someone (Mr T. in Fallout, Legolas in Oblivion).

For all others I just mix it up.